Post by GridironBeez on Nov 15, 2009 14:59:17 GMT -5
QUARTERFINAL PREVIEW
#5 Colton (9-1) @ #1 Cusick (11-0)
@ Newport High School, Friday, November 20th, 7:00 p.m.
@ Newport High School, Friday, November 20th, 7:00 p.m.
Colton 2009 Schedule/Results (9-1) SE #2 seed
W 24-16 - 9/11/2009 at Salmon River
W 89-54 - 9/18/2009 vs. Joseph
W 60-14 - 9/25/2009 vs. St. John-Endicott
W 66-20 - 10/2/2009 at LaCrosse-Washtucna-Kahlotus
W 60-26 - 10/9/2009 at Touchet
W 52-7 - 10/16/2009 vs. Sunnyside Christian
W 34-28 - 10/23/2009 at Lyle-Wishram
L 62-50 - 10/30/2009 vs. Tri-Cities Prep
W 28-8 - 11/6/2009 at Garfield-Palouse
W 40-8 - 11/13/2009 vs. Columbia
>Colton Total Points Scored = 503 (50.3 ppg avg.)
>Opponents Total Points = 231 (23.1 ppg avg.)
>Most Points Scored Single Game in 2009: 89 vs. Joseph
>Most Points Allowed Single Game in '09: 62 vs. Tri-Cities Prep
>2009 Opponents Overall Records: 45-47
Cusick 2009 Schedule/Results (11-0) NE #1 seed
W 40-6 - 9/4/2009 at Odessa
W 51-22 - 9/11/2009 vs. Wilbur-Creston
W 59-16 - 9/18/2009 vs. Selkirk
W 63-14 - 9/25/2009 at Sprague-Harrington
W 56-6 - 10/2/2009 at Pateros
W 64-18 - 10/9/2009 vs. Almira/Coulee-Hartline
W 61-12 - 10/16/2009 vs. Curlew
W 52-6 - 10/23/2009 vs. Inchelium
W 64-12 - 10/29/2009 vs. Wellpinit
W 40-22 - 11/6/2009 at Columbia
W 60-6 - 11/13/2009 vs. Odessa
>Cusick Total Points Scored = 610 (55.5 ppg avg.)
>Opponents Total Points = 140 (12.7 ppg avg.)
>Most Points Scored Single Game in 2009: 64 vs. Wellpinit/ACH
>Most Points Allowed Single Game in '09: 22 vs. W-C/C-H
>2009 Opponents Overall Records: 49-53
2009 Common Opponent: Columbia-Hunters (8-3)
>Cusick 40 - Columbia 22 (Week #10)
>Colton 40 - Columbia 8 (Week #11)
Colton Head Coach: Clark Vining
Cusick Head Coach: Sonny Finley
Key Players for Colton:
> RB/DB - Sam Robertson, Sr. (teams leading rusher and points scored)
> QB/ - Josh Straughn, Soph. (5 - 300 yard plus passing games)
> R/LB - Chase Druffel, Sr. (teams leading receiver)
> R/DB - Steve Eacker, Jr.
> OL/LB - Pat Lutskas, Sr.
> OL/DE - Bernie Druffel, Sr.
Key Players for Cusick:
> QB/LB - Spencer Shanholtzer, Sr. (2,397 passing, 631 rushing)
> RB/DB - Josiah Rhoades, Sr. (730 rushing, 15 TD's)
> R/LB - Tyler Edwards, Jr. (43 rec, 1,002 yds, 17 TD's)
> R/DB - Shem Norton, Jr. (26 rec, 579 yds, 9 TD's, 102 tackles)
> DE/ - Robert Ives, Sr. (19 sacks, 53 tackles)
> OL/DL - Cusick's entire O and D Line is a big benefactor
Game Outlook:
Two very athletic teams will square off at Newport this week. Athleticism is one of the few things they have in common. Cusick runs their offense through their QB Shanholtzer who throws and runs equally well, while Colton spreads things out more and their QB is a pocket passer. Sam Robertson works as a running back and receiver in the Colton backfield and is as good of a running back as there is anywhere in the State. Shanholtzer gets his yards creating runs after being flushed from the pocket or on called bootlegs. He does have help in the backfield in the form of Lake Quinault transfer Josiah Rhoades who is very quick to the hole and has good speed. Receivers are everywhere on these two teams, Druffel and Eacker, and throw in Robertson for Colton. Edwards, Norton and Jacob Prine for Cusick have all caught plenty of footballs and made big plays all season long.
I think this game comes down to the trenches. Colton has proved scrappy on the defensive line and stubborn against the run (see Columbia game). Cusick has shown just as much from their defensive line but more in the overpowering form of play. DE Robert Ives has 19 sacks on the season and he will be hunting Colton's young sophomore QB all night. Cusick will clearly have the size advantage but Colton is certainly used to that. Colton's d-line is small but quick and they will need that quickness to contain Shanholtzer. This may be the quickest d-line that Cusick has seen all year, while on the other side, this could be the most powerful d-line the Wildcats have seen.
Interesting similarities and even more so, interesting contrasts in this game. Very difficult to predict any kind of outcome. If one went straight up on record and league domination obviously Cusick would be the obvious choice. I also think that Cusick has to be the favorite. They were the number one team all season long and have done nothing for anyone to question that. Is Colton the little engine that could? We don't know the answer to that yet, but they have only had one common opponent and that was Columbia. Both Cusick and Colton scored 40 against Columbia, but Colton was up the entire game, 28-0 at half and 40-0 before Columbia scored. Cusick went down early before taking a 20-16 halftime lead and eventually winning 40-22.
This is 8-Man football and games can turn on a dime between two good teams.
